RULE 101. The Vessel, its Owner, Master and officer in charge shall be severally and jointly responsible for the safe condition of the vessel's gear and equipment, and for the competency of any Ship's Officer or member of the crew who may engage in operations covered by this Code. They shall provide, so far as the same shall be under their control, a safe working place on board the vessel from all operations carried on upon it. The crew shall ensure that the ship be securely moored at all times.

Inspection of vessel's cargo gear shall be made by its crew before gear is used for stevedoring operations to ensure it is operational and safe. All original safety equipment, windshield wipers, heaters and seating in crane cabs must be in working order. The crew shall give all assistance possible to properly maintain vessel's cargo gear while in use. It is recommended that an entry be made in the Ship's Gear Register of any findings relative to safety made by a Port Warden.

The vessel shall ensure that all work by ship's crews and others shall be conducted in a safe manner not to interfere with cargo operations and be in compliance with the "Code of Safe Practices to Ship's Crews and Others Working in the Vicinity of Cargo Operations".